Binghamton Zoo Animals

Hedgehog

(Atelerix albiventris)
Order: Insectivora
Family: Erinaceidae
Genus: Atelerix
Species: Atelerix albiventris

HABITAT AND RANGE: There are 8 species of hedgehog. They live in the British Isles, Europe, Russia, Korea, China, Asia Minor and Northern Africa. limestone boulders, along riverbanks, or under roots of trees.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Hedgehogs have furry cream-colored stomachs, chocolate-colored legs and prickly spines on their backs and sides. The spines have bands of different colors on them. Most commonly the spine gets darker as it approaches the tip, while the actual tip is yellowish. Hedgehogs have close to 8,000 spines covering their bodies. These spines are modified hairs. The area of the body that is covered by spines also has a large muscular sheath just under the skin. When they are frightened, they contract the sheath and it encloses their entire body in spines and raises the spines for defense. They have rounded bodies, which end in furry, pointed tan faces that extend 7-10 inches. They have an excellent sense of smell and are continuously sniffing their surroundings. A typical adult weighs between 10 and 16 oz.

ADAPTATIONS: Hedgehogs are most active at dusk. Their gait is usually a slow, rolling walk, but they can run, swim and climb with agility if necessary. Their spines protect them from enemies and also cushion them when they fall or purposefully drop from a height. During the day, hedgehogs rest underneath brushpiles or in leaf nests in rock crevices or burrows. Hedgehogs hibernate during the winter.

DIET: The hedgehog is a voracious insectivore, but also eats mollusks (snails and slugs), small rodents and some snakes. They have a natural immunity to snake venom and have been observed liking their spines with thick saliva after eating a snake. It is thought that the saliva at this point may contain small amounts of venom and the hedgehog could be coating their spines with this as a defense.

REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT: Gestation is 5 weeks, with the young being born in the spring, after hibernation. Hedgehogs bear 2 to 8 young. The offspring open their eyes 14 to 18 days after birth. The spines on the newborns are soft and rubbery for about 20 days, at which point they are almost fully hardened. Hedgehogs reach sexual maturity at one year.

STATUS IN WILD: Due to its extensive range and large wild population, this species is stable in the wild.